Princess Mary spent half of every day with little Nicholas, watching his lessons, teaching him Russian and music herself, and talking to Dessalles; the rest of the day she spent over her books, with her old nurse, or with "God`s folk" who sometimes came by the back door to see her.

Marya Dmitrievna came back to dinner taciturn and serious, having evidently suffered a defeat at the old prince`s. She was still too agitated by the encounter to be able to talk of the affair calmly. In answer to the count`s inquiries she replied that things were all right and that she would tell about it next day. On hearing of Countess Bezukhova`s visit and the invitation for that evening, Marya Dmitrievna remarked: